What is the product formed when salicylic acid is heated with sodalime?

The major product of the following reaction sequence is:
$C_6H_5OH \xrightarrow[(ii) NaOH, (iii) H^+]{(i) CHCl_3, NaOH(aq)} ?$

Predict the major product for the following reaction:

The product obtained is/are

Given below are two statements.
Statement $I$: Phenols are weakly acidic.
Statement $II$: Therefore they are freely soluble in $NaOH$ solution and are weaker acids than alcohols and water.
Choose the most appropriate option.

Which of the following is acidic?